The leaked Chase Starbucks Visa card is now live for applications. Here’s a review of the card.
In case you are new to the Starbucks rewards program here’s a summary: All Starbucks Gold members get 2 stars per $1 spent at Starbucks. Get a free drink or food item after reaching 125 stars ($62.50 in spend). More in-depth post here on the program.
The New Starbucks Visa Card Offers these rewards:
Get instant Gold status on the Starbucks loyalty program which typically takes 300 stars ($150 in spend) to reach
Earn 1 star per $4 spent everywhere outside Starbucks (free item after $500 in spend)
Earn 1 star per $1 spent on Starbucks purchases only when reloading your Starbucks balance via the app (if you pay directly at Starbucks you’ll earn the regular earn rate of 1/$4). The 1 star per $1 earned on Starbucks app reloads is in addition to the standard 2 stars per dollar earned by Gold members on all purchases. In total, you’ll end up with 3 stars per dollar, but again, the credit card is only adding 1 star extra per dollar.
8 Barista Picks: Curated food or beverage Rewards selected by baristas and automatically loaded to the cardmembers Starbucks Rewards account. These are random picks that get sent to you, not something you can choose. This benefit will load to your account 45 days after becoming a cardmember and will reset each cardmember year. Barista picks expire after 30 days.
Signup Bonus
Earn 2,500 stars (20 free drinks) after spending $500 within the first 3 months
Earn 250 stars (2 free drinks) when using the Starbucks Visa card to loadyour Starbucks card in the app for the first time
The Starbucks Stars program comes with a 6-month expiration on stars, and this expiration is the same for credit card holders. This is especially important to keep in mind with regards to the signup bonus since you’ll have to use up all 22 free items within 6 months. The good thing about this is that you can keep points from expiring by using this card and topping off rewards like we do with airline and hotel points.
Starbucks stars can be used for almost any free item – it’s not limited to a drink. Our suggestion is to find the most expensive food item from Starbucks which could be an $8 or so Turkey sandwich and use it for that! A typical drink runs under $5, so keep that in mind when determining the value of the rewards program.
Small Print
The Chase Starbucks Visa card is not available to current cardmembers or previous cardmembers of this credit card who received a new cardmember bonus for this credit card within the last 24 months. This is not possible now because this is a new card. Unknown whether the 5/24 rule applies to this card. This rule basically says you cannot get most cards from the Chase portfolio if you have too many applications or other cards.
You can use the card now in the app, but…!
Upon approval, you’ll be able to use a digital version of the credit card immediately in the Starbucks app (but not elsewhere).
Card comes with standard Chase card benefits like purchase protection, extended warranty, price protection, and car rental insurance.
Should you get the card?
The $49 annual fee is shocking because it really doesn’t do too much unless you really want to feel like you belong to Starbucks. If a card charges an annual fee you should get benefits such as a free hotel night. A $49 annual fee with the IHG card can get you a free night stay at a Holiday Inn. The card also has foreign transaction fees and that makes no sense because they are such an international business.
Looking at the earnings on the card it’s not too bad but if you put in the annual fee it’s not impressive. The value comes to less than 1% back on everyday spend, and it’s slightly over 3% back on Starbucks purchases. To maximize the value of the card it would come to a valuation of 2% everywhere ($500 spend gets $10 sandwich at Starbucks) and 8% at Starbucks ($125 spend gets $10 sandwich).
This was a pretty hyped card which was leaked last year to include such a high annual fee. Starbucks is a brand that people obsess with such as Apple but you have to be a pretty ill informed shopper to actually pay a fee for this card.
My brother recently discovered airline miles and was discussing at Christmas that he had no idea he could get miles for all of the flights he took that were paid under his employer. He has missed out basically on thousands of miles the he could’ve received for free. If you’re in the same situation or are in the need to find a way to request mileage credit on the major U.S. airlines that are missing or want them added from past flights then we have the solution.
Some examples of retroactive credits of miles are:
Missing Miles: The miles from a flight you took do not appear in your frequent flyer account after a certain period of time.
Newbie: You register a frequent flyer account after a flight you take and would like to earn the miles from that flight.
Oops: You did not add your frequent flyer account information to your reservation before your flight and would like to earn the miles from that flight.
Tip: In order to minimize the chances of needing to retroactively request mileage credit, register for a frequent flyer account before your flight. It’s always best to do this before you book the ticket then you’ll have the number to add to your reservation. This can be done online or at the check-in desk at the airport. Note that you can choose to credit the miles from your flight to one of the airline’s partners. A handy guide WheretoCredit.com lets you pick which airline to register for a frequent flyer account on that airline.
1. United Frequent Flyer Accounts
Flights on United
Miles from flights on United typically post to United frequent flyer accounts within 48 hours. If they have not posted after five days, you can submit a request for the miles by submitting your 13-digit ticket number at this link. You can find the ticket number on the e-ticket receipt email you received when your ticket was issued (not the email confirming your ticket purchase). Ticket numbers for United flights usually begin with 016.
It’s important to note that if you register a United frequent flyer account after your flight, you must request the miles for that flight within 30 days of the flight in order for the miles to be credited to that account. If it has been between 30 days and 6 months since the flight, you can request mileage credit for a fee of $50. Whether or not this is worth it depends on how you personally value United miles.
Flights on Partner Airlines
For flights on Star Alliance or other partner airlines, miles will usually post to United frequent flyer accounts within 15 days after the flight. If the miles have not posted after this point, you can request mileage credit by submitting your 13-digit ticket number, same as above. One exception is intra-Japan flights on ANA, as these do not have a ticket number. For these flights, simply enter 2050000000000. If the system cannot locate your partner airline ticket, it will request other information – all of this information can be found on your boarding pass, so we advise holding onto your boarding pass for some time after your flight.
Amtrak
You can earn United miles from rides on Amtrak. These can also be requested once it has been more than 15 days since your trip. To do so, you’ll need to send a message through this Contact MileagePlus link; choose “Mileage Credit” as the subject. You will need to submit your ticket receipt and the ticket itself.
Hotels, Rental Cars and Other Partners
For hotels and rental cars, mileage credit requests are accepted after eight weeks. This link provides information on how to request credit from each hotel and rental car partner. Requesting mileage credit for a rental car or hotel reservation can even reactivate expired United miles in your account! If the reservation is from before the date your miles expired and the miles for the reservation have not already posted to your United account, requesting mileage credit for the reservation will reactivate the expired miles.
2. American Frequent Flyer Accounts
Flights on American
Miles from flights on American typically post to American frequent flyer accounts within 2 business days. If they do not, you can request mileage credit by filling out the form on this link. Note that you can only request credit for flights taken within the past 12 months. Conveniently, you can request mileage credit for other passengers on your itinerary on the form as well rather than needing to fill out a separate form for each passenger; the miles will be credited to their American frequent flyer accounts. If you do not have an American frequent flyer account, you can register one to earn mileage credit for flights taken within the prior 30 days.
Flights on Partner Airlines
You can request mileage credit for flights on OneWorld partners using the same link as above. However, you can only request mileage credit for certain airlines this way. If the airline is not on the list below, you will need to mail or fax (1-817-963-7882) your ticket receipt and boarding pass to request credit.
Hotels, Rental Cars, and Other Partners
See this link for how to request mileage credit for each of American’s non-airline partners.
3. Delta Frequent Flyer Accounts
Flights on Delta
Miles from flights on Delta typically post to Delta frequent flyer accounts within 24 hours. If they do not, you can request mileage credit through this link (you will need to log into your account). You will need your ticket number – the field has space for 13-digit ticket numbers, but if your ticket number is 14 digits, simply leave off the last digit. Note that mileage credit can only be requested for flights taken within the past 9 months, different from United and American. If you had not registered a Delta frequent flyer account before your flight, you can register one and request mileage credit for flights taken in the prior 30 days.
Flights on Partner Airlines
Miles from flights taken on SkyTeam partner airlines usually post to Delta frequent flyer accounts within 7 business days. If they do not, you can request mileage credit using the same link as above.
4. Alaska Airlines Frequent Flyer Accounts
Flights on Alaska
Miles from flights on Alaska typically credit to Alaska frequent flyer accounts within 7 business days. If they do not, you can request mileage credit by filling out the form on this link. You can request mileage credit using your 13-digit e-ticket number, or, if you do not have it, other information about your flight (date, route, etc.) will suffice. If you happen to have your boarding pass accessible when you request the mileage credit, all of the necessary information can be found on it. Mileage credit requests can only be submitted for flights taken in the past 11 months, and, unlike you must have registered a frequent flyer account prior to your flight.
Flights on Partner Airlines
Miles from flights on partner airlines typically post within 14 business days. If they do not, you can use the same link as above to request mileage credit. If this does not work, you can send your receipt and boarding pass to Alaska Airlines either by mail or email (mileage.plan@alaskaair.com). The amount of time after the flight in which mileage credit can be requested varies by partner airline, as follows:
British Airways – 6 months
Air France and KLM – 9 months
Other partners (American, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Qantas, etc.) – 12 months.
Hotels, Rental Cars, and Other Partners
Instructions for how to request mileage credit from other partners can be found on this page. Mileage credit requests for Avis, Alamo, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, National and Thrifty can be submitted through the given rental car company’s website. Similarly, mileage credit requests for Hilton, Fairmont, La Quinta, and can be submitted through their websites. To request mileage credit for all other hotel partners, you must email your hotel receipt to mileage.plan@alaskaair.com.
5. Southwest Airlines Frequent Flyer Accounts
Flights on Southwest
Miles from flights on Southwest typically credit to Southwest frequent flyer accounts within 48 hours, and mileage credit requests can only be submitted after this period. Requesting mileage credit on Southwest is simple. After logging into your Southwest account, click “My Account.” Within the “My Account” page, click on “Manage Account” and then “Request past points.” Submit your flight confirmation number on the page to request mileage credit.
Southwest does not have any airline partners.
Hotels, Rental Cars, and Other Partners
Though Southwest does not have airline partners, they do have hotel, rental car, and other partners – you can earn miles from all of them. Just head over to Southwest.com and request all the miles from these partners.
Here is a listing of several Uber Promo codes and deals you do not want to miss out on if you are a regular rider or trying it for the first time.
Uber is a pretty amazing app. I’ve done day trips to cities like Chicago and NYC without having to rent a car thanks to UberX rides that are cheaper than a taxi and far more convenient. And while people wait for an hour in the taxi line I breeze right into a waiting car. I have even earned Starpoints for using Uber on top of 20% Off and an additional 1.5 points per dollar for charging Uber rides to my Everyday Card.
How to get $20 in Free Rides: Register here to get a $20 credit for Uber towards a Free Ride. Use promotion code “UberVip4me“
Google Maps Free $15 Credit (All, Existing Users)
Google Maps is offering a Free $15 Credit for your next ride when you book a ride through their app.
Follow the directions below:
1. Skip this Step if Existing User. If it’s your first time using Uber then Register here to Sign Up for Uber. Use promotional code “UberVip4me“ 2. Open or download the Google Maps app for iOS or Android
3. Enter address for your destination
4. Click on button to get directions
5. Select the “Taxi” routing option (usually 3rd or 4th from the left)
6. You should see a black banner that says “Book an Uber now to get $15 off”
Note: While supplies last.
Uber Flat Fares Can Save You “Hugely”
If you do not plan on going to the airport the new Uber Flat Fare tests running in major cities are worth a try if you plan on using rideshare the next 30 days.
How To Access Your Uber Payment Rewards
You can access your Payment Rewards from the “Payment” section under the Menu in the Uber app. Just click on “Payment” in the Menu and then tap the “Unlock Ride Discounts” button to review your benefits. You will then be able to see a progress bar that shows your current status for each payment method, both when requesting a ride and in the payment menu. You can use your discounts or free rides whenever you like, or simply tap “Save for Later” if you want to use your rewards at a later time.
Tips To Avoid Surge Pricing
Uber has long stirred controversy over the higher “surge” prices it charges during peak times. You can do a few things such as changing your location even by a few hundred feet to influence the price you get. Users have also discovered that you can often get back to normal fare levels by waiting as few as five minutes to book your ride.
More Ways to Save on Uber Rides across the United States
Other ways to save money riding with UBER include using AMEX Membership Rewards points to pay for a ride and 21.5% back on rides using a Capital One Quicksilver Card. Note: They actually just updated the Quicksilver promotion where you get the 10th ride free instead of the 20% back. You can also earn Starwood Points per ride.
Save more money by taking Uber Alternatives and using their promo codes while the competition is stiff with Curb and Lyft.
Save $10 in Los Angeles or get free delivery in New York and Washington, DC with UberEATS use promo code eats-ubervip4me. You can now enjoy new Uber car services in Boston, Las Vegas, and Seattle. Also, if you have a business card from American Express you can get $50 back. (more…)
The Chase Freedom credit card comes with rotating quarterly bonus categories where you can earn 5x points on your purchase of up to $1,500 per quarter instead of the regular 1x point per dollar spent. You can now start taking advantage of Chase’s 2018 first quarter rotating categories for this card. The 5% back categories with Chase Freedom really aren’t that exciting for me but this time around it covers what I spend money on the most. This includes cable and internet and phone services if you take out all of my travel purchases but you can do some of those too on Apple or Samsung Pay!
Coming this Summer 2023:
For this quarter, which includes January, February, and March, you can earn 5% cash back on the following:
Gas Stations
Internet, Cell, and Phone Services
Chase Pay, Android Pay, Apple Pay, and Samsung Pay
Go here for the rest of of the summer 5% back including Gas purchases.
$200 Bonus for New Accounts
If you’re new to the Chase Freedom Card you can get a $200 Bonus by applying here. You’ll get a $200 bonus after spending $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
Android Pay, Apple Pay, Chase Pay, and Samsung Pay
Since purchases using Chase Pay, Android Pay, Apple Pay, and Samsung Pay trigger the 5% cash back, it should be easy to max out your $1,500 spend cash back! All you have to do is pay with the mobile app at participating stores, or while shopping online. You’ll probably be surprised with how many merchants accept mobile payments and you can normally tell when the card swipe box has a wifi looking sign.
Internet, Phone, and Cable Bills
You can also change your Internet, Cell Phone, and Home Phone service bills to charge your Chase Freedom card instead of the card that is currently being billed. If your combined bills are less then $1,500 for the three months, you can also pre-pay your cell phone bill, for instance, and it will just give you a credit on your bill for the coming months. This option is only good though if you are not currently using a credit card that earns 5x points. Keep in mind that you cannot purchase a phone and get the 5% back because it doesn’t cover equipment. It only covers the service.
Gas Stations
This is a great time to get 5% back at gas stations while fuel costs are higher than normal. Discover Card is also offering a 5% back at gas stations for the first 3 months of 2018. Our favorite Gas Station is Shell where they have a Fuel Rewards program and you can stack the savings on each fill-up.
HSBC is offering a new HSBC Cash Rewards credit card with no annual fee and a $150 bonus when you spend $500 or more in the first 3 months from account opening. Additionally, you’ll get 2% cash back on purchases made within the first 6 months from Account opening, and 10% Anniversary Bonus on all Cash Rewards earned each year. The card also comes with no foreign transaction fees and other decent travel benefits.
We recently applied for this HSBC Cash Rewards Mastercard to earn $150 cash back after spending $500 in the first 3 months of account opening. This a really low spending requirement to make in three months of opening to get a $150 bonus. The process was easy with HSBC and we instantly got approved which was a relief because other banks such as BarclayCard and Chase have made it harder and harder lately. The credit limit was much lower than we would get with other banks but we only need to spend $500 so that’s more than OK.
Rewards 2% cash back on purchases – You’ll make 2% cash back during the first 6 months from account opening then 1.5% cash back after those months are over. 10% Anniversary Bonus – Earn this bonus on all Cash Rewards earning each year. (more…)
My brother recently discovered airline miles and was discussing at Christmas that he had no idea he could get miles for all of the flights he took that were paid under his employer. He has missed out basically on thousands of miles the he could’ve received for free. If you’re in the same situation or are in the need to find a way to request mileage credit on the major U.S. airlines that are missing or want them added from past flights then we have the solution.
Here is a listing of several Uber Promo codes and deals you do not want to miss out on if you are a regular rider or trying it for the first time.
get the 10th ride free instead of the 20% back. You can also earn 
HSBC is offering a new HSBC Cash Rewards credit card with no annual fee and a $150 bonus when you spend $500 or more in the first 3 months from account opening. Additionally, you’ll get 2% cash back on purchases made within the first 6 months from Account opening, and 10% Anniversary Bonus on all Cash Rewards earned each year. The card also comes with no foreign transaction fees and other decent travel benefits.